Factor Structure of the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale for Norwegian School-age Children Explored with Confirmatory Factor Analysis

The validity of the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) was examined in a national sample of 863 Norwegian schoolchildren in grades 1-7 (aged 6-13). The original factor structure of the STRS was tested by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA results did not support the original three-factor structure of the STRS. Subsequent CFA of the short form of the STRS (STRS-SF) supported the shortened version, which contained 15 items and two factors (closeness and conflict). The concurrent validity of the STRS-SF was also found to be good. This study provides initial support for the factor validity of the STRS-SF for Norwegian children in grades 1-7. This measurement should be useful for both researchers and practitioners who want to assess and evaluate the quality of student-teacher relationships.